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' P. J. MERZ.

WATER CLOSET. No. 285,829.

Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ J. MERZ, OE NEWARK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE MENZING, OF ELIZA- BETH, NEW JERSEY.

WATER-CLOSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,829, dated October 2, 1883.

7 Application filed January 5,1863. (No model.)-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANZ J. MERZ, a citizen of the United States, residing atNewark,

in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Closets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

' to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to reduce the cost of constructing water-closets and to pre vent the same from readily getting out of order.

The invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both of the figures, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, and Fig. 2 isavertical section of the same.

In carrying out my invention I form the bowl in two parts, A A, in the upper of which parts the waste-passage is smaller in diameter than in the lower, so that a seat is formed, preferably inclined, as shown, for a swinging valve, 12, secured to the wall of the passage. The valve is thus adapted to close against its seat and prevent the downward passage of water. Upon the top of the bowl is pivoted, at c, the seat B, which is thus capable of a rocking motion, and to the lower edgeyof said seat is suspended a weight, 0, sufficiently heavy to counterbalance the seat and to hold the valve against its seat. Beneath the weight is arranged a lever, e, which is fulorumed at f, passes through a perforation in the section A of the bowl, and engages with the under side of the valve, holding the same against its seat when the weight bears upon the outer end thereof. The valve or valve-seat may be suitably provided with a rubber or other packing to make a more perfect joint. Upon one side of the weight is formed a rack, g, which engages with a cog connected to a stop-cock, which opens when the weight raises and closes when said weight drops, as will be understood. The water is otherwise supplied to the bowl in the usual manner.

The weight may be suspended from the seat portion B by hooks, which engage with eyes in 5 5 the seat, the parts being held into engagement by the cog working on the rack.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: When a person seats himself, the weight of the body causes the seat B to rock forward and raise the weight, which action turns on the water and allows the valve 1) to fall from its seat. When the person rises, the weight falls, causing the lever to close the valve and the cog to turn off the water, the water that is in course of progress from the cock to the valve remaining in the bowl. The passage in the portion A, being larger than that in the portion A, allows the valve, when open, to lie back, so as not to obstruct said passage. The valve covering the perforation prevents the exit of the water thcrethrough.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with a bowl having a valve therein and a rocking seat, B, thereon, of the weight 0 and lever e, engaging with said valve to close it, all substantially as herein set forth. 8o

'2. In combination, the bowl, rocking seat, weight, lever, and swinging valve secured to a side wall of the bowl, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shown.

3. In combination, the perforated bowl having sections A A, the rocking seat, weight suspended therefrom, having the rack g thereon, and lever e, all arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of December, 1882.

FRANZ J. MERZ. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL,

OLIVER DRAKE. 

